Toilet seat lifting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for lifting a seat ( 12 ) and lid ( 14 ) of a toilet seat and lid assembly. The apparatus includes a first hinge portion ( 80 ) integral with the seat and rotatably mounted to the base ( 16 ), a second hinge portion ( 82 ) integral with the lid ( 14 ) and rotatably mounted to the base ( 16 ) and a drive means ( 20 ) engageable with the first and second hinge portions ( 80  and  82 ). The first hinge portion ( 80 ) is adjacent a first side of the seat ( 12 ) and is the only integral part of the seat ( 12 ) secured for rotation about the base ( 16 ). The second hinge portion ( 82 ) is adjacent a second opposite side of the lid ( 14 ) and is the only integral part of the lid ( 14 ) secured for rotation about the base ( 16 ). The drive means ( 20 ) is mounted between the first and second hinge portions ( 80  and  82 ) and engages with the first and second hinge portions ( 80  and  82 ) to rotate either or both of the seat ( 12 ) and lid ( 14 ) about the base ( 16 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for lifting the seat and lidof a toilet. It has been recognised previously that, due to thepotential unhygienic nature of toilet seats and lids, a method oflifting the seat and lid without requiring physical contact may bebeneficial. While attempts have been made to produce such devices, theyhave not gained particularly wide acceptance in many areas due to anumber of reasons. For example, power must generally be provided todrive the seat and lid up and down and overly complex systems result inan increase in cost to an item that would otherwise be relativelyinexpensive. For many consumers, the issue of needing to make contactwith a potentially unhygienic toilet seat is simply not of sufficientimportance to justify the additional cost and effort to install such adevice.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part theaforementioned disadvantages of previous devices provided for liftingthe seat and lid of a toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lidassembly, the seat and lid being pivotally mounted for rotation about abase wherein the apparatus includes:

-   a first hinge portion integral with the seat and rotatably mounted    to the base;-   a second hinge portion integral with the lid and rotatably mounted    to the base; and-   a drive means engageable with the first and second hinge portions;-   wherein the first hinge portion is adjacent a first side of the seat    and is the only integral part of the seat secured for rotation about    the base, the second hinge portion is adjacent a second opposite    side of the lid and is the only integral part of the lid secured for    rotation about the base and the drive means is mounted between the    first and second hinge portions and engages with the first and    second hinge portions to rotate either or both of the seat and lid    about the base. Preferably the seat and lid rotate about a common    rotation axis and the first hinge portion extends from the first    side of the seat along the rotation axis to a point adjacent the    midpoint of the seat and the second hinge portion extends from the    second side of the seat along the rotation axis to a point adjacent    the midpoint of the lid.

Preferably, the first hinge portion comprises a first hollow cylindricalmember, the second hinge portion comprises a second hollow cylindricalmember and the drive means engages inside adjacent open ends of thefirst and second hollow cylindrical members.

The drive means preferably comprises a cylindrical drive housing intowhich is received a first drive motor and a second drive motor, thefirst and second drive motors having drive shafts extending in oppositedirections along the central axis of the cylindrical drive housing. Thefirst and second drive shafts may each include gears that extend throughapertures in the drive housing and engage with inner surfaces of thefirst and second hollow cylindrical members respectively.

The base preferably includes a mounting portion comprising a first endportion having an arcuate upper surface onto which is received the firsthinge portion, a second end portion having an arcuate upper surface ontowhich is received the second end portion and a central portion having acradle into which is received the drive housing.

Slots may be provided in the first and second cylindrical members, intowhich are received arcuate securing clips which engage with the drivehousing to prevent disengagement of the first and second hollowcylindrical members from the drive housing.

Typically, the base portion includes a battery housing for batteries topower the drive means, the battery housing being located parallel to andbehind the mounting portion such that the battery housing is accessiblewhen the seat and lid are both closed.

Preferably a spring bias mean is provided in engagement with the seatand lid to provide a rotational force in the direction of opening to thelid and seat. The spring bias means may comprise a first coil spring inthe first hollow cylindrical member and a second coil spring in thesecond hollow cylindrical member.

Advantageously, a control means is provided to control operation of thedrive means. The control means may include a control panel having atransmitter and the drive means include a receiver for receiving signalsfrom the transmitter in the control panel such that the drive means caneither raise or lower either the seat or lid or both. Preferably thecontrol panel includes a sensor to detect motion such that motiondetected by the sensor is used to control operation of the drive means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of a toilet seat and lid assemblyand drive means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fully exploded view of the toilet seat and lid assembly anddrive means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the toilet seat and lid assembly of FIG. 1assembled; and

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the toilet seat and lid of FIG.1 assembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, there is shown apparatus 10 for lifting a seatand lid assembly. The seat and lid assembly includes a toilet seat 12and a lid 14. The toilet seat 12 and the lid 14 are mounted forrotational movement about a base 16. The base 16 is to be mounted to atoilet (not shown) by any suitable means. The seat 12 and the lid 14 aremounted to both be rotatable about a common axis 18 such that either theseat 12 and lid 14 can be opened together or the lid 14 can be rotatedopen and the seat 12 left in place.

The apparatus 10 is provided with a drive means 20 capable of providinga rotational force to either the seat 12 and the lid 14 together or thelid 14 alone. The drive means 20 comprises a first electric motor 22having a first drive shaft 24 for rotation of the seat 12 and a secondelectric motor 25 having a second drive shaft 27 for rotation of the lid14. The base 16 comprises a battery housing 32 and a mounting portion30, onto which is mounted the seat 12, the lid 14 and the drive means20. The battery housing 32 is located parallel to and behind themounting portion 30 in use such that the battery housing 32 isaccessible when the seat 12 and the lid 14 are closed.

The mounting portion 30 includes a first end portion 34, a second endportion 36 and a central portion 38. Each of the first and second endportions 34 and 36 include a generally arcuate upper surface. The seat12 includes a first hinge portion 80 comprising a first hollowcylindrical member 40. The first hinge portion 80 is integrally formedwith the seat 12 and is located on a first side of the seat 12. Thefirst hollow cylindrical member 40 is received in the arcuate uppersurface of the first end portion 34 such that the seat 12 is rotatableabout the base 16 by rotation of the first hollow cylindrical member 40within the first end portion 34. The first hollow cylindrical member 40extends from the first side of the seat 12 to a point before themidpoint of the seat 12. The length of the hollow cylindrical member 40allows the seat 12 to rotate about the base 16 while being connectedonly on the first side thereof.

The lid 14 includes a second hinge portion 82 comprising a secondcylindrical member 42. The second hinge portion 82 is integrally formedwith the lid 14 and is located on a second side of the lid 14 oppositethe first hinge portion 80. The second hollow cylindrical member 42 isreceived in the arcuate upper surface of the second end portion 36 suchthat the lid 14 is rotatable about the base 16 by rotation of the secondhollow cylindrical member 42 within the second end portion 36. Thesecond hollow cylindrical member 42 extends from the second side of thelid 14 to a point before the midpoint of the lid 14. The length of thehollow cylindrical member 42 allows the lid 14 rotate about the base 16while being connected only on the second side thereof.

The drive means 20 includes a drive housing 44 into which is receivedthe first and second electric motors 22 and 25. The housing 44 isgenerally cylindrical and the first and second electric motors 22 and 25are arranged centrally within the drive housing 44 such that the firstand second drive shafts 24 and 27 extend coaxially away from each other.The central portion 38 of the mounting portion 30 includes a cradle 46into which is mounted the drive housing 44. When received in the cradle46, a first end of the drive housing 44, in which is located the firstdrive shaft 24, extends into the first hollow cylindrical member 40 ofthe seat 12. A second end of the drive housing 44, in which is locatedthe second drive shaft 27, extends into the second hollow cylindricalmember 42 of the lid 14. Each of the first and second drive shafts 24and 27 include gears that extend through apertures in the drive housing44 and engage with inner surfaces of the corresponding first and secondhollow cylindrical members 40 and 42 such that operation of the firstelectric motor 22 rotates the first hollow cylindrical member 40 andthereby the seat 12, and operation of the second electric motor 25rotates the second hollow cylindrical member 42 and thereby the lid 14.

The arrangement in which the first and second integral hinge portions onthe seat 12 and the lid 14 are provided on opposite sides with the drivemeans mounted centrally allows for easy assembly of the apparatus. Thedrive housing 44 can be placed in position and the seat 12 and lid 14slid into engagement with the drive means from opposite sides.

A cover member 50 is also provided to extend over the drive housing 44between the first and second hollow cylindrical members 40 and 42 andprevent access to the drive housing 44. Once the drive housing 44 isreceived in the cradle 46 and the cover 50 is in place, a first securingclip 66 is received in a corresponding slot 67 in the first hollowcylindrical portion 40 to engage with the drive housing 44. A secondsecuring clip 68 is received in a corresponding slot (not visible) inthe second hollow cylindrical portion 42 to engage with the drivehousing 44. The first and second securing clips 66 and 68 comprisegenerally arcuate members being received in the corresponding slots. Thesecuring clips 66 and 68 have protrusions 70 at each end to engage withcorresponding apertures in the drive housing 44.

Also provided is suitable circuitry located in the cradle 46 below thedrive housing to control operation of either or both of the first andsecond electric motors 22 and 25. The battery housing 32 housessufficient batteries 35 to power the first and second electric motors 22and 25

The apparatus 10 of the present invention includes spring bias means.The spring bias means comprises a first coil spring 60 arranged to be inengagement with the seat 12 and a second coil spring 62 in engagementwith the lid 14. The first coil spring 60 is located in the first hollowcylindrical member 40 and the second coil spring 62 is located in thesecond hollow cylindrical member 42. The first coil spring 60 is engagedsuch that when the seat 12 is in the closed position, the first coilspring 60 provides a rotational force to the seat 12 in a direction thatwould tend to move the seat 12 to the open position. The rotationalforce provided by the first coil spring 60 is not sufficient to move theseat 12 by itself but provides sufficient bias such that only a minimalamount of force provided by the first electric motor 22 results inmovement of the seat 12.

The second coil spring 62 is engaged such that when the lid 14 is in theclosed position, the second coil spring 62 provides a rotational forceto the lid 14 in a direction that would tend to move the lid 14 to theopen position. The rotational force provided by the second coil spring62 is not sufficient to move the lid 14 by itself but providessufficient bias such that only a minimal amount of force provided by thesecond electric motor 25 results in movement of the lid 14. In this way,the first and second electric motors 22 and 25 provided may berelatively small and inexpensive. The apparatus 10 is provided also witha control means in the form of a control panel 66. The control panel 66is provided with a transmitter (not shown) that transmits a signalreceived by a receiver (not shown) in communication with the drive means20. The control panel 66 includes means to accept user input to selectfunctions including lifting the lid 14 only, lifting both the lid 14 andthe seat 12 and lowering the lid 14 and the seat 12. In the embodimentshown, the control panel 66 includes a sensor to detect motion such thatthe user may control the operation of the apparatus by moving their handin the vicinity of the sensors.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addresseeare deemed to be within the scope of the present invention

1. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lidassembly, the seat and lid being pivotally mounted for rotation about abase wherein the apparatus includes: a first hinge portion integral withthe seat and rotatably mounted to the base; a second hinge portionintegral with the lid and rotatably mounted to the base; and a drivemeans engageable with the first and second hinge portions; wherein thefirst hinge portion is adjacent a first side of the seat and is the onlyintegral part of the seat secured for rotation about the base, thesecond hinge portion is adjacent a second opposite side of the lid andis the only integral part of the lid secured for rotation about the baseand the drive means is mounted between the first and second hingeportions and engages with the first and second hinge portions to rotateeither or both of the seat and lid about the base.
 2. An apparatus forlifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the seat and lid rotate about a common rotationaxis and the first hinge portion extends from the first side of the seatalong the rotation axis to a point adjacent the midpoint of the seat andthe second hinge portion extends from the second side of the seat alongthe rotation axis to a point adjacent the midpoint of the lid.
 3. Anapparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assemblyin accordance with claim 2, wherein the first hinge portion comprises afirst hollow cylindrical member, the second hinge portion comprises asecond hollow cylindrical member and the drive means engages insideadjacent open ends of the first and second hollow cylindrical members.4. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lidassembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the drive means comprises acylindrical drive housing into which is received a first drive motor anda second drive motor, the first and second drive motors having driveshafts extending in opposite directions along the central axis of thecylindrical drive housing.
 5. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid ofa toilet seat and lid assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein thefirst and second drive shafts each include gears that extend throughapertures in the drive housing and engage with inner surfaces of thefirst and second hollow cylindrical members respectively.
 6. Anapparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assemblyin accordance with claim 4, wherein the base includes a mounting portioncomprising a first end portion having an arcuate upper surface ontowhich is received the first hinge portion, a second end portion havingan arcuate upper surface onto which is received the second end portionand a central portion having a cradle into which is received the drivehousing.
 7. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat andlid assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein a cover member isprovided to cover across the drive housing between the first and secondhollow cylindrical members.
 8. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lidof a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordance with claim 4, whereinslots are provided in the first and second cylindrical members, intowhich are received arcuate securing clips which engage with the drivehousing to prevent disengagement of the first and second hollowcylindrical members from the drive housing.
 9. An apparatus for liftinga seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the base portion includes a battery housing forbatteries to power the drive means, the battery housing being locatedparallel to and behind the mounting portion such that the batteryhousing is accessible when the seat and lid are both closed.
 10. Anapparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assemblyin accordance with claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes spring biasmeans in engagement with the seat and lid to provide a rotational forcein the direction of opening to the lid and seat.
 11. An apparatus forlifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordancewith claim 10, wherein the spring bias means comprises a first coilspring in the first hollow cylindrical member and a second coil springin the second hollow cylindrical member.
 12. An apparatus for lifting aseat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordance with claim1, wherein a control means is provided to control operation of the drivemeans.
 13. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat andlid assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the control meanscomprises a control panel having a transmitter and the drive meansincludes a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter in thecontrol panel.
 14. An apparatus for lifting a seat and lid of a toiletseat and lid assembly in accordance with claim 13, where the controlpanel can send signals to the receiver based on information receivedfrom input means of the control panel such that the drive means eitherraises or lowers either the seat or lid or both.
 15. An apparatus forlifting a seat and lid of a toilet seat and lid assembly in accordancewith claim 14, wherein the control panel includes a sensor to detectmotion such that motion detected by the sensor is used to controloperation of the drive means.